Extracts from Journals, 1872-1881; Printed for Private Circulation (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1908. Excerpt: ... EXTRACTS FROM JOURNALS Halsdon, May 14, 1872.... I heard from Alfred Lyttelton1 this morning. He writes freshly and cleverly, a very amusing account of Eton, of himself, of our friends. A very precocious letter for a boy of his age.... Eugene writes too, tenderly of Eton, which seems to have power to give him a blunt eloquence when touching on that theme beloved by both of us... At Eton all was bright and fair, a free outspoken truth-before-everything kind of life, with liberty carefully restricted, but encouraged. At Cambridge, less heartiness, less openness, although, maybe, a little more freedom of action. In the world you are your own master, 1 Since Secretary of State for the Colonies. I B free to go where you will, do what you will, but fettered with social chains heavy to bear, impossible to break. Later on professional ties bind you down more closely than ever school discipline did, intercourse is shallow and heartless betwixt man and man, friendships rare, intimacy impossible. It is hard to write to Bertie1 and non-Etonian friends. There is so little in common between us, except Cambridge " shop," of which I am blissfully ignorant, so one is reduced to talking, as I suppose the birds sing, on matters of public interest. We keep up our spirits here by talking politics, economy, and philosophy. The first is an after-breakfast subject, the result of the papers. The last is conditional to Plato's Apology, through which we wade pleasantly and slowly. Economy we apply to our very eating, drinking, and sleeping. It must be good practice this;--Chesterfielded all day long on every conceivable topic, and pray God the failure may not be as great. 1 Earl Grey, Governor-General of Canada. May 16, Thursday. II A.M.... A spicy story comes from Cambridge. Balfo...